Chapter Text
Spring before the end of Peter’s sophomore year of high school was an eventful time. So much so that Tony… didn’t even notice the first skipped lab session. Or the second, for that matter. It was only on the fifth that he began to use his big ol’ genius brain to find faults in the story that Peter spun for him at that particular time.
“I’m gonna head over to Ned’s for the night, he insisted on inviting me just now and I couldn’t say no. Sorry, Mr. Stark, we’ll see each other again soon enough.” He told Tony with hands clutched at his sides, a resolute aura encompassing him and his demeanor. Tony turned around, staring at Peter in the doorway of the lab.
They were supposed to be starting on another, new and improved, web formula that day. It had been planned and plotted for weeks. Tony couldn’t help the frown that crossed his face at the information. First, at the frigid rejection, and then at the major inconsistency he found in it.
“Weren’t you telling me that Ned was out for the week with a stomach bug? Because I remember you complaining about it and viruses in general to me over the phone the other day.” Peter paused, as if he didn’t have a response for Tony’s question. Because he clearly, clearly didn’t. He probably just thought Tony would drop it, like all the other times he’d canceled with vague excuses over the past two months. Which… now? Those vague excuses were looking a lot more fishy.
“Oh, he’s uh- he’s better now, that’s why we’re hanging out. Got over it really quickly.” Tony nodded slowly.
“Right. His twenty-four hour stomach bug.” He deadpanned. “I won’t suppose I’ll see him tomorrow at school pick-up, right? Since he’s so much better now?” Peter paled, biting at his lip for a few seconds until it began to bleed, at which point he stumbled through an explanation.
“Well- for precautions sake, he won’t be allowed at school this week, just so others don’t catch the residuals of his sickness. But we’re totally fine to hang out!” He answered, speaking slowly at first, and then picking up speed with confidence. Tony glared at him, trying to show as much disbelief as possible through his expressions alone.
“Isn’t the future of Spider-Man more important than one night with Ned?” He said, not unkindly. Usually, the mention of his nighttime activities as a duty was enough to guilt-trip Peter into doing what Tony wanted him to do (used sparingly), but apparently his luck had run out on that front. Because now Peter was defensive.
“Spider-Man is not more important than my relationships, thanks. I’m allowed to be my own person, y’know, unless you care more about Spider-Man than Peter Parker.” Peter snapped, finally sounding irritated.
It was obvious he wouldn’t get an accurate answer out of Peter any time soon, and as much as he wished otherwise, he wasn’t actually Peter’s other guardian. He certainly would be informing May of the development, however.
He just wished he knew that Peter was safe, because as much of a goodie-two-shoes he was, he certainly could be reckless.
“Fine. You two have fun. And for the record- I care much more about you Peter than you’ll ever know.” He said to Peter, waving him out of the lab. The boy scurried off, face still flushed, to the elevator. Tony sighed, and took out his phone, before dialing a familiar number.
“May? I think we need to chat.”
Tony knocked on the door loudly, maybe a little too loudly, because he heard a nearby neighbor shout at him in a muffled tone to “keep it down.” What could he say? He wasn’t a patient man. May appeared in the doorway, looking frazzled, as she held it open for him.
“Hello, Tony.” She said, politely, though with warmth. “We have a few things to discuss, yes?” She grabbed his forearm gently and led him to the couch in the living room, where two cups of tea were waiting. His was black, just like he liked it.
“I believe we do.” He said, taking a sip from the too-hot cup, flinching when some of the liquid grazed his sensitive lower lip. “What have you noticed about Peter lately?” May furrowed her brow.
“Well.” She started, collecting herself. “He’s been a little distant. Staying late at school and out otherwise. He’d told me that he was staying with you, though, and I know how close you are, and even after everything, I do trust you to bring him back to me in one piece.” Tony nodded.
“See, that’s funny. Because all the times that he canceled on me, he said he was at Ned’s.” They met each other’s gazes slowly.
“Ned’s.” She said, contemplatively.
“Ned’s.” He said, nodding in agreement.
They had the next clue to the puzzle.
Slowly, Tony reached into his pocket and brought out his phone once more, dialing another set of familiar numbers. The other end of the line picked up at around the second ring.
“Ned, buddy. We need your help.” There was some shuffling around in the background, and what sounded like the sounds of heavy feet on hardwood flooring.
“Yeah? With what? You rarely call me unless you need something.” He said, sounding disgruntled as he sniffled once, then twice
“Peter isn’t over at your place, right?” Tony asked, getting straight to the point. Ned sniffled again.
“No? Why would he- I’m sick with, like, twenty different things. Did he… tell you that?” Ned asked, catching onto the purpose of the call fairly quickly. There was a reason why he attended Midtown.
“Yes, he did. And now we’re trying to figure out where he’s been hanging out for the past two months or so, possibly longer.” Ned sneezed, before quickly regaining stamina.
“Shit, apologies. Oh, sorry for swearing, Mrs. Parker. Uhh… I can directly ask him where he’s been, see if he’ll give me a straight answer.”
“Could you do that for us?” Ned licked his lips loudly.
“Sure. I care as much about Peter’s safety as any of you. I just sent a text, and- oh.”
“What?” Tony asked, leaning forward on the couch. “What did he reply with?”
“Uh. He said he’s at his…. boyfriend’s place.” Tony blanked out.
“What?”
“Yeah, he said he’s staying over at his apartment. I uh, did not know that he had a boyfriend. I mean I knew he was kinda seeing someone sometimes, but-”
“You knew?” May asked, interjecting. Tony could imagine the guilty look on Ned’s face from over the phone.
“Well, yeah. But it wasn’t my secret to tell. And I trust Peter to stay safe, so…”
“Yeah, well. We don’t.” Tony said, bluntly. “Because if he’s telling nobody where he’s going, hiding his boyfriend from us- that’s not safe. That’s not safe at all. What if something happened today, and I called you and couldn’t find him? Or if, god forbid, his boyfriend wasn’t who Peter thought he was-”
“That’s enough, Tony.” May said, squeezing his hand. “Don’t scare Ned too much. He’s a teenager, just like Peter, and he was probably already guilted into keeping this a secret.” Tony pursed his lips.
“I’m just saying-” That was when they heard a burp on the other side of the line, which was very abruptly hung up. “Ah, shit.”
“Poor kid.” May said, staring at Tony’s Starkphone. “I hope he feels better.”
“And I hope we can find Peter.” May glared at him.
“Ned and Peter are a package deal. You care for one of them, you care for both. Ned probably didn’t have more information than what he already gave us, anyways.” Tony let out a sigh and looked down at his lap.
“I know. You’re right. I’m just…”
“Just worried?” May said, putting an arm around his shoulders. “Me too, Tony.”